Can you solve this classic chess problem?

This is puzzle is amongst the most famous in chess history! It was originally composed by George Barbier and perfected by Fernando Saavedra after he tranformed it from a draw position into winning for white by finding a genius move in 1895.

White to move and win. Can you find how?

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#chess #puzzles #strategy #tutorials #endgames

[tykemorris]

I did solve it, but didn't notice the Rd4 stalemate trap. Once you showed it, I saw the Underpromotion. Having done so many of these puzzles with underpromotion solutions, it seems impossible that the composer didn't see it, let alone the entire chess world.

[wiscorpio]

Oh yeah, I remember this puzzle from the book All About Chess by I.A. Horowitz. I love that underpromotion to a rook. From the start of the puzzle, Stockfish has it as a mate in 26. The rook chasing the king is essential to point out for the beautiful rook promotion, but at anytime black can move it's king instead, white would promote to a queen, then it's a game of queen vs rook. I'm actually not good at queen vs rook endgames. Incase my opponent with a rook doesn't resign, I have to study how to mate with a queen against a rook, or it would be a draw. If black keeps with the king chase, do promote to a rook but if it doesn't keep with the chase, promote to a queen and know how to mate with a queen against a rook.

[rodrigovasquez]

Excelente, Saavedra was very clever👍👍👍

[RamKumar-gynb]

You are just brilliant... Excellent puzzle. Thank you very much and God bless you Sir

[alexandroyassuhiro]

Thank you for explaining in such detail.

[RadicalCaveman]

This is a great old chestnut. I've seen it before, but not for a long time.

[sergemorneau]

Black's first move should be 1....Rd2, let the pawn queen, and then get a perpetual by checks on the a and b columns or exchange for the queen if white's king moves to the c column... no?!?

[jackieking]

Thank you.... bloody amazing and such a strange way to pass one of my remaining evenings. But sorta fun🤗

[tottenvillelegend]

I’ve seen this puzzle before. You got to play the precise moves, even with only four pieces on the board.

[petersiegfriedkrug]

This is the most famous chess study of all. Another famous study is Retí's pawn study (Kh8/Ka6). When I started chess as a child, someone showed me this position. I think everyone should know this position...

[JAZPER]

Surely Rook d2 after pawn c7 threatens a perpetual

[talesofthespiritwarriorand]

5:13 just promote to rook and no stalemate

[VictorHugo-zmkn]

step 1: consider losing more than 90 % of your troops as your victory.
step 2: congrats bro, you win

[fob]

1:18 "to get the draw".. You meant, "to get the win" ?

[nationalstudyacademykim]

I learned this when I was in the 7th grade in the chess club, which was over 40 years ago. I showed it to a grand master in a chess team and he gave up still trying to change the pawn into a queen. Rook-e moove, I'd say.

[MoonBurn]

Amazing. But I wouldn’t just resign as Black even if I knew the Puzzle. There’s always a chance White doesn’t and it’d be awfully difficult for White to figure it out on the fly.

[RobertSeviour]

Underpromotion - my main complaint at work.

[EarthSurferUSA]

I am at 1:19 only, and I don't see how the pawn can't make it. Unless you blunder the King away from the action, the rook is on a terrible square/row.

[Mayhamsdead]

I don't even have an ELO rating, and this still was the easiest chess "puzzle" I've seen on YouTube.

[karezaalonso]

Queen vs rook endgame isn't simple either